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Context: Shelburne Falls/Buckland Central Business District

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Context: Shelburne Falls/Buckland Central Business District

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  1. Assessing the Shelburne Falls Collaborative Composting ProgramA Program Administered by:Shelburne Falls Area Business Association(SFABA)Regionalization Toolkit Conference, Worcester September 1, 2011Presented by: Thomas Benjamin, RLA, LEED-AP BD+CContact: tbenjamin@ecsconsult.com, (413) 687-1135

  2. Context: Shelburne Falls/BucklandCentral Business District Greening Your Bottom Line

  3. Context: Bridge of Flowers, Eateries & Arts – An International Tourist Destination Greening Your Bottom Line

  4. Sustainability Assessment Leads toPilot Composting Program • Sustainability Assessment – Winter 2010 • Comprehensive assessment of energy, waste and water systems for five local businesses • Reducing waste disposal costs emerged as high priority and attainable item for businesses • Pilot Composting Program – Summer 2010 • Five participating food establishments • Two offices added early on Greening Your Bottom Line

  5. Pilot Compost Program Assessment 5 • Program Assessment – Spring/Summer 2011 • MA Dept. of Housing and Community Development funded, under Downtown Initiative Program Grant • Surveyed participating businesses including: • Two restaurants • Two cafes • One sweet shop • Two offices Greening Your Bottom Line

  6. Participating Businesses 6 Greening Your Bottom Line

  7. Participating Businesses 7 Greening Your Bottom Line

  8. Compostable Waste Dumpster 8 Greening Your Bottom Line

  9. Composting Facility 9 Greening Your Bottom Line

  10. Pilot Compost Program Assessment 10 • Conducted Survey to Identify: • Weekly trash volume • Weekly compostable waste volume • Components of the compostable waste • Cost effectiveness • Convenience • Available times for training staff Greening Your Bottom Line

  11. Pilot Compost Program Assessment 11 • Survey to Determine if the Program is: • Still supported by participating businesses • Cost effective for businesses • Likely to remain viable at current scale • Expandable to include additional businesses • In need of improvement and how Greening Your Bottom Line

  12. Pilot Compost Program Assessment 12 • Weekly Trash vs. Compostable Waste: • Trash = 0.25 – 6 cubic yards per business • Compostables average 2 cubic yards +/- • Existing Dumpster holds 4 cubic yards • Compostable waste to 2 tons +/- • Program is diverting roughly 50% of solid waste produced by participating businesses on average • Diverting up to 75% of solid waste per business • Roughly 50% dumpster volume is paper waste Greening Your Bottom Line

  13. Compostable Waste Stream 13 Greening Your Bottom Line

  14. Pilot Compost Program Assessment 14 • Cost Effectiveness: • Monthly hauling fee for dumpster = $140.00 • Most businesses have realized some disposal cost savings, up to 30% reduction annually • Likely that business have saved more then survey results suggest • Challenges to cost savings include: • Pre-existing trash disposal contracts lack flexibility • Trash disposal contract running with property owner not the business tenant Greening Your Bottom Line

  15. Pilot Compost Program Assessment 15 • Direct Participant Feedback -Successes: • Strong support to continue the program • Support program expansion • Sense of pride Challenges and Areas for Improvement: • Improve cost effectiveness • Illegal dumping and lock vandalism/misuse • Pests/Nuisance odors/Clean-up • Dumpster access during winter months • Recognition of program participants and overall marketing of program Greening Your Bottom Line

  16. Program Challenges 16 Greening Your Bottom Line

  17. Pilot Compost Program Assessment 17 • Survey to Determine if the Program is: • Still supported by participating businesses Yes • Cost effective for businesses In most cases • Likely to remain viable at current scale Maybe • Expandable to include additional businessesHopefully • In need of improvement and how Greening Your Bottom Line

  18. Pilot Compost Program Assessment 18 • Future Strategies for long-term Feasibility: • Direct business-to-farm pickup and disposal • Provides potential cost savings and additional convenience to businesses • Provides much needed “free” compost feedstock to farms • Challenge: How to coordinate multiple parties for consistency?? Greening Your Bottom Line

  19. We can have this…… Greening Your Bottom Line

  20. ……or this! Greening Your Bottom Line

  21. Questions? • For more information contact: Thomas Benjamin, RLA, LEED-AP BD+C Sustainability Consultant ECS, Inc. tbenjamin@ecsconsult.com (413) 687-1135 Greening Your Bottom Line

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